For Cate McNider, drawing and painting came out of a need to communicate between the unconscious to the conscious mind; a buried treasure that could stay silent no more. Images and symbols presented themselves in dreams or during movement and bodywork experiences. The body was speaking — so she listened. The symbols became lines, became color, became shape and shade. Some paintings are surprises others are replications of what she has seen within.
She did not seek formal post-graduate training, but accepted informal studies with two painters; representational (David Olander) and abstract (Eliezer Parrilla) painters in Manhattan and in West Hurley, NY. She began on canvas, following her teachers, then because of typical NYC space limitations, she turned to making works on multi-media paper -- charcoal, pastel, watercolor, and oil stick.
The conversation is with the unconscious -- cleaning out an infinite closet. Her extensive movement explorations and healing her spine for 44 years finds its way on the canvas in some of her earlier work.
Often, she reports the images and feelings that arise while sitting in meditation; reporting her experience in color, shape and concept. Most spiritual experiences are difficult to define in words, so shape, color and concept lend themselves as close as possible in the reporting, however her poetry does attempt to express the concepts she encounters.
Her work expresses the fundamentals of nature, exploring the experience of natural Law itself. For example: Transmitting narratives from night dreams, or replicating actual primordial wavelengths seen in her mind’s eye before her brain transforms them into what makes up this reality.
She is documenting a self-realization process, in concept, color and line. She does her best to get out of the way, and allow IT show her what IT is.
Urban Yogini, acrylic on canvas, 24x30" -- $650
In the template of man, the pyramid is the most stable of shapes. This piece comes out of an experience in one of my 'sitting' sessions. What happens within me during these times, is knowledge showing me itself. This painting demonstrates the symbolic and the real. As anyone who practices yoga, may be familiar with the bird blankets used as a prop for the asanas, the birds also symbolize the spirit in travel, as well as being what I am sitting on.
Notice if you will, what you feel inside you as you look at it -- does the pyramid spin?
"It seems that the work is about a pivotal time in history. The cultural part of it has a very strong direction and very centered. The figure is in movement, but very grounded with the form that seems to represent a pyramid." - Bill Engel, artist and teacher at New York School of Interior Design
"I see separation and careful distancing in this. I see paths of electrical energy as well and people meeting, perhaps wanting to be intimate but careful architectural barriers in between. Top Left : there is a lot of energy facing inward as well as to the heavens. It is introspective as well as looking more spiritual. Water is important now to you and calming nature that it gifts us."
--William Engel, artist and art teacher at New York School of Interior Design
Pandemic work:
"It is majestically powerful on so many levels." --William Engel, artist and art teacher at New York School Interior Design
This is the companion to the painting above. It symbolizes opening and surrendering to 'all that is'; one embodies all frequencies.
"The rainbow works are strong, says Bill Engel, It's like the two stages of the Cross, but with a diversity and equal rights theme."
Opening Night Solo show Party at Sister Jane Tavern, May 25, 2018. My works on canvas, mostly acrylic were on display for six months. In the carousel directly below this are many of the paintings shown.
The owner of Spicy Moon, Nick and his wife, saw my work on Instagram, after the Sister Jane show, and invited me to include two of my paintings on the walls of his delightful restaurant. Places of dining and socializing seem to be the sites that attracts my work -- something for your kitchen perhaps?
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My 2nd Poetry Collection: Escape Velocity is Launched !!
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